20 August,2021 05:57 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Bombay High Court. File Pic
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) told the Bombay High Court that charges against the accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case will not be framed till August 25.
The framing of charges -- after which a trial starts -- at the special NIA court was to take place on August 23, but the accused's lawyers moved the high court saying that they had not yet received certain key documents from the prosecution. Senior advocate Yug Chaudhry, who is representing activist Sudha Bharadwaj, told the HC that she and other accused were yet to receive a copy of draft charges submitted by the NIA.
Also, certain applications filed by the accused including one for clone copies of evidence had not been decided by the special court so far, he added. Advocate Sandesh Patil, the NIA lawyer, told a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar that the Central agency will not proceed with framing of charges until August 25.
"We will get an adjournment (from the special court). This court (the HC) may hear the matter on August 25 and until then we will not proceed with framing of charges. We will also provide the relevant documents to Mr Chaudhry's client in the meanwhile," Patil said.
On August 9, the NIA filed draft charges before the special court against the 15 accused. They included around 20 charges invoked against the accused under the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Once draft charges are filed, the court hears the accused on each count and 'frames' the charges following which the trial begins.
ALSO READ
Badlapur encounter: High court flays police for not reconstructing crime scene
Atrocities case: IRS officer Sameer Wankhede moves HC seeking independent probe
Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse: Court grants bail to consultant Chetan Patil
Maharashtra Elections: No illegality in mobile phone ban at polling booths: HC
No urgent hearing on plea against appointment of Rashmi Shukla as DGP: HC
Also Read: Clear Fr Stan Swamy's name in Elgar case: Lawyer to Bombay High Court
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
